“We didn’t have to knock on many doors, there was a lot of demand for the show. It shows that our ideas are world-class and are as attractive to an international audience as they are to Kiwis,” he said.

O’Meagher hinted that the budget for the US version may be up to five times that of the original.

“One of the beauties of the American format will be just seeing what a larger budget will do on the screen. The key thing is that the spirit and the integrity of the New Zealand series is preserved. The American writers have been nothing but respectful and complimentary.”

The show’s creators Gavin Strawhan and Rachel Lang will work closely with the ABC producers and writers as they begin to develop the series for US audiences.